The Eclectus Parrot has extreme gender dimorphism (differences in appearance between sexes). The males are mainly bright green, with yellow-tinged foreheads and blueish wing and tail-tips. The beak is vivid yellow-orange, black below. Females, on the other hand, are bright crimson with violet abdomens, chests, and upper backs. The beak is jet-black, and eye rims are bright blue in some varieties.

This parrot has a short, relatively flat tail, about 14 inches long in both genders.